UK weather: Maps show exact locations Brits will bask in glorious 20C 'mini-heatwave' today

Weather maps turn a dark red today – as temperatures are anticipated to top 20C for large swathes of the country.

The mercury is likely to exceed 20C in the UK for three consecutive days, with a high of 20.1C on Thursday in Weybourne, Norfolk, 21.5C in both St James’ Park, central London and Northolt in the west of the capital yesterday, and today’s continued warmth. Friday was the warmest day of the year so far, the Met Office told us last night.

It’s because winds have been moving in from the southwest, sending a plume of Atlantic warmth across the country. The best of the weather today, forecasters say, will be across the East of England and Southeast England.

Maps issued by forecasters at Ventusky show 21C is likely across Suffolk by around 3pm, and surrounding areas in Essex and Norfolk will hit 20C. Most of Greater London will also experience 20C highs, for the third consecutive day completing what has been described as a “mini heatwave”.

It’ll be 17C as far north as Lincolnshire by this afternoon, the forecasters say. Yorkshire will see highs of 14C and, even in Cumbria, where temperatures struggled at 9C earlier this week, the mercury should peak at 12C today.

A weather map shows the areas thought to be the warmest today

Terry Scholey, a meteorologist with Netweather, wrote on the service’s blog: “While temperatures remain significantly above normal in the East and South, cooler weather will slowly work its way in from the Northwest of England… England and Wales continue mainly dry into the evening and after dark, with just a few showers for a time, mainly in the north and east.”

He refers to the warmest weather being in southern and eastern areas but, even in parts of the Southwest of England, temperatures should reach 18C. Somerset is likely to see the best weather in this region, it is thought.

The Met Office stresses this week’s weather doesn’t meet the threshold of a technical heatwave, despite claims online Brits are experiencing a “mini heatwave” with temperatures repeatedly into the 20Cs.

The red hue covers most of East Anglia, East Midlands and parts of Southeastern England

But regardless, Sunday marks the start of a sudden change with temperatures falling quickly and showers moving in from the west. These will linger throughout Monday, especially in Scotland and Northwest England. As the Mirror reported, temperatures will soon plummet to 2C in Lancashire, Cumbria and central Scotland. The mercury will drop to 4C in north Wales and parts of Northumbria, County Durham and East Yorkshire.

Forecasters say it’ll feel even colder in most places across the country because of fierce winds, of up to 50mph across Northern Ireland alone on Monday. Jo Farrow, meteorologist with forecasters Netweather, said: “There will be a change during the weekend to cooler, fresher feeling air and a northerly nip in the air for the start of the next working week. Temperatures will tumble from the high teens for the end of this week down into single figures for Monday and Tuesday.

“Manchester will be closer to 8C by Monday, feeling more like just 4C, Brighton might record 11C on the thermometer but will feel more like 6C in the rain and strong gusts. Portrush, Co Derry is having a taste of spring on Thursday in the southerly wind at 16C but by Monday it will feel more like just 4C with 50mph gusts.”